Species Diversity Report

GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST APPENDIX F – SPECIES DIVERSITY REPORT APPENDIX F – SPECIES DIVERSITY REPORT George Washington National Forest April 2011 Updated February 2013 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT F - i APPENDIX F – SPECIES DIVERSITY REPORT GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST This page left intentionally blank F - ii FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST APPENDIX F – SPECIES DIVERSITY REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………….1 2.0 Species Diversity………………………………………………………………………………………………1 2.1 Ecosystem Context for Species……………...……………………………………………………..…………1 2.2 Identification and Screening of Species……………………………………………………….……………2 3.0 Threatened and Endangered Species …………………………………………………………………3 3.1 Threatened and Endangered Species List…………..…………………………………………..…………3 3.2 Threatened and Endangered Species Descriptions and Needed Plan Components ………4 3.2.1 Indiana Bat………………………………………………………………………………………………...………4 3.2.2 Virginia Big-Eared Bat……………………………………………………………………………………….15 3.2.3 Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel..………………………………………………. …….18 3.2.4 James Spinymussel ………………………………………………………………………………………….22 3.2.5 Madison Cave Isopod……………………………………………………………………………….………..26 3.2.6 Shale Barren Rock Cress……………………………………………………………………………..…..…28 3.2.7 Smooth Cone Flower……………………………………………………………………………………..…..32 3.2.8 Virginia Sneezeweed……………………………………………………….……………………..……….…33 3.2.9 Swamp Pink ……………………………………………………………….……………………….……………36 3.2.10 Northeastern Bulrush…………………………………………………………………………..………..….37 3.3 Threatened and Endangered Species Summary of Plan Components ……………….…………40 4.0 Other Species Addressed……………………………………………………………………..……..…..41 4.1 Species list…………………………………………………………………………………………………..………41 4.2 Species Groups…………………………………………………………………………………………..….…….41 4.2.1 Alkaline Glade and Barren Associates ..................................................................................................... 43 4.2.2 Calciphile Associates .............................................................................................................................. 43 4.2.3 Cave Associates ...................................................................................................................................... 45 4.2.4 Cavity Tree, Den Tree and Snag Associates .......................................................................................... 46 4.2.5 Cliff, Talus and Large Rock Outcrop Associates .................................................................................... 46 4.2.6 Cove Forest Associates ........................................................................................................................... 47 4.2.7 Fire Dependent and Fire Enhanced Associates ....................................................................................... 47 4.2.8 Hard and Soft Mast Associates ............................................................................................................... 48 4.2.9 High Elevation Coniferous, Deciduous and/or Mixed Forest Associates ............................................... 49 4.2.10 Late Successional Hardwood Dominated Forest Associates ................................................................. 50 4.2. 11 Area Sensitive Mature Coniferous, Deciduous, and/or Mixed Forest Associates ................................. 51 4.2.12 Lepidopterans ........................................................................................................................................ 51 4.2.13 Mafic Rock Associates .......................................................................................................................... 52 4.2.14 Species Needing Occurrence Protection ............................................................................................... 52 4.2.15 Open Area Associates ............................................................................................................................ 54 4.2.15a Area Sensitive Grassland and Shrubland and Open Woodlands Associates ....................................... 54 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT F - iii APPENDIX F – SPECIES DIVERSITY REPORT GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST 4.2.15.b Area Sensitive Grasslands Associates ................................................................................................ 55 4.2.15.c Area Sensitive Shrubland and Open Woodland Associates ............................................................... 55 4.2.15.d Grassland Associates .......................................................................................................................... 55 4.2.15.e High Elevation Opening (Grassy Or Shrubby) or Open Woodland Associates ................................. 56 4.2.15.f Shrubland Associates .......................................................................................................................... 57 4.2.15.g Regenerating Forest Associates.......................................................................................................... 58 4.2.15.h Open Woodland Associates ............................................................................................................... 58 4.2.16 Riparian Area Associates ...................................................................................................................... 59 4.2.17 Ruderal Associates ................................................................................................................................. 63 4.2.18 Sandstone Glades and Barrens Associates ............................................................................................ 64 4.2.19 Species Sensitive to Over-Collection .................................................................................................... 64 4.2.20 Species Sensitive to Recreational Traffic .............................................................................................. 64 4.2.21 Shale Barren Associates ........................................................................................................................ 65 4.2.22 Species with Habitat in Special Biologic Areas .................................................................................... 66 5.0 Effects of Alternatives on Species…………………………………………………………………………69 6.0 Plan Components Needed for Species Diversity……………………………………………………82 6.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………..….82 6.2 Species Groups Covered by Ecosystem Diversity Plan Components.…………………………82 6.3.1 Calciphile Associates ............................................................................................................................... 83 6.3.2 Cavity Tree, Den Tree and Snag Associates ........................................................................................... 83 6.3.3 Cliff, Talus and Rock Outcrop Associates .............................................................................................. 84 6.3.4 Hard and Soft Mast Associates ............................................................................................................... 85 6.3.5 High Elevation Coniferous, Deciduous and/or Mixed Forest Associates ................................................ 85 6.3.6 Lepidopterans .......................................................................................................................................... 85 6.3.7 Species Needing Occurrence Protection ................................................................................................. 86 6.3.8 Open Area Associates .............................................................................................................................. 86 6.3.9 Ruderal Associates .................................................................................................................................. 87 6.3.10 Sandstone Glades and Barrens Associates ............................................................................................ 87 6.3.11 Species Sensitive to Over-Collection ..................................................................................................... 87 6.3.12 Species Sensitive to Recreational Traffic .............................................................................................. 87 6.3.13 Species with Habitat in Special Biologic Areas .................................................................................... 88 Literature Cited………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………89 Appendix F-1. Species Not Carried Forward into the Ecological Sustainability Analysis Appendix F-2. Species Groups by Individual Species Appendix F-3. Species Stresses and Threats and Forest Plan Strategies F - iv FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST APPENDIX F – SPECIES DIVERSITY REPORT 1.0 INTRODUCTION Planning for ecological sustainability is an iterative two-stage process that involves first providing for a diversity of ecosystems and then by developing additional direction to meet the biological needs of specific species or species groups. Most plant and animal species will be sustained by managing for a diversity of ecosystems in the Plan area. However, additional provisions may be needed to help provide ecological conditions for specific species such as federally listed threatened and endangered (T&E) species, sensitive species and locally rare species. This Species Diversity Report is a supplement to the Ecosystem Diversity Report, which described how

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